Lisa Marie sells Elvis rights for $100m : Lisa Marie Talks about the sale of the Estate Sale

Here is part of an interview Lisa Marie did with Rolling Stone magazine on the Estate Sale. Lisa Marie Presley says she didn't 'go nuts'.

Doing the best thing

When Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie sold eighty-five percent of the multi-million Elvis Presley Estates last month to Robert F.X. Sillerman, the billionaire investor announced his intention to 'take risks on bigger opportunities' with the King's name and image.

Speaking exclusively with Rolling Stone, Presley confesses that the decision to sell was not easy, and expresses confidence in the direction in which Sillerman will take the Elvis brand. 'It's not like I just went nuts and sold it', says Lisa Marie, who in reality spent years searching for the right buyer. 'I don't know if people have this misconception that we're going to build a giant casino on the lawn of Graceland, or that Elvis condoms are going to be mass-distributed throughout the world, but that's not going to happen'.

Sillerman, who will manage the estate through his company CFX, declined to offer specific marketing plans, but he says people shouldn't expect Elvis to start appearing in TV commercials, or that the market will be flooded with T-shirts and mini-Graceland models. 'Less is more', he says. 'I think overexposure diminishes the value of Elvis'. He does, however, see big money in Elvis' future -- he may invest in projects such as Elvis-themed entertainment in Las Vegas or in Japan and Europe, where the King's allure is huge. More than half of the 10 million-plus sales of the 2002 release 30 #1 Hits came from outside America.

Lisa Marie retains fifteen percent of the estate, as well as the deed to Graceland and all of Elvis' personal belongings. She also has veto power over any unorthodox new venture. 'He cannot do anything that hasn't been historically done', Presley says of Sillerman. 'That's the thing we still wanted control of, and that was a big part of our process: 'Is this person going to do something crazy that we have no control over'' No stone was left unturned in making sure that that wasn't the case. That's why it took a long time to find the right person'.

Sillerman bought the bulk of the estate for cash, stocks and debt forgiveness totaling $100 million, including fifty percent of Elvis' publishing rights (the singer sold the majority of his master rights back to RCA in 1973). The mogul -- who sold his massive concert-promotion business, SFX Entertainment, to radio conglomerate Clear Channel in 2001 for more than $4 billion -- plans to form partnerships with a variety of artists through CFX.

Elvis, who would have turned seventy on January 8th, has topped Forbes' list of top dead-celebrity incomes for the past four years; in 2003 the King made a profit of $12 million on nearly $45 million in revenues, mostly generated from merchandising and Graceland tourism. In December, a fan in North Carolina used eBay to sell some water from a Styrofoam cup that Elvis supposedly drank from -- for $455. (He recently sold an appearance by the cup itself. Winning bid: $305.)

Though some fans on Elvis Web sites have expressed outrage over the estate's sale, Lisa Marie says her father would be pleased.

'Would he have wanted me to do the best thing for the future, for expanding the estate, for protecting his family?' she asks. 'The answer would have been 'Hell, yes'.

Lisa Marie Presley

Storm And Grace Special Edition CD [4 Bonus Tracks]
Elvis By The Presleys DVD

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Interview with Lisa Marie Presley (And Michael Lockwood) : 2009
Aerial photo, Lisa Marie's Country Mansion in England : January 2011
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ABC TV Interview with Lisa Marie Presley : Feb 2012
Rolling Stone Interview with Lisa Marie Presley : March 2012
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Audio : Over Me by Lisa Marie Presley

A second song from Lisa Marie Presleys soon to be released album, Storm And Grace, has been released online. The song, Over Me is again another strong performance and we look forward to the album!

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Latest Audio (and video) updates : Video courtesy of Elvis Presley Video Central.

Elvis Presleys Grandchildren

Danielle Riley Keough : (born May 29, 1989) and is known as Riley Keough for her modeling work.

Riley is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and musician Danny Keough.

Celebs : The Next Generation : November 10, 2004
Elvis lives on ... in the form of his grandaughter : Riley Keough : June 23, 2008
Beautiful Photos of Riley Keough, Elvis' Granddaughter in Elle Italia : May 17, 2011

Riley Keough : Lisa Marie Presley : Priscilla Presley : Benjamin Keough.

Twins

Lisa Marie Presley gave birth to twin girls on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2009. The baby girls were named Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood & Finley Aaron Love Lockwood and were delivered by Caesarean section 2:46 p.m. They weighed in at 5 lbs., 15 oz. and 5 lbs., 2 oz. The girls are the first children together for Lisa Marie and husband Michael Lockwood, a musician (Married in Japan January 2006). Lisa Marie, who proudly displayed her baby bump in the September issue of Marie Claire, has a daughter Riley Keough, 19, a model, and Benjamin, 15, with ex-husband Danny Keough. The names acknowledge Elvis (Aaron), Gladys (Love) and Priscilla (Ann).

Photos of Lisa Marie's Twin Girls : Finley & Harper : January 23, 2009
Lisa Marie Presley takes her little princess for a spin around Hawaii : February 22, 2011

Benjamin Keough : Lisa's Son : Elvis Presleys Grandson
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Priscilla Presley

More about Priscilla Presley
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Video Interviews with Priscilla Presley

Interview with Priscilla Presley : 1978 (05:54)
Priscilla Presley on Good Morning America : 1979 (07:57)
Interview with Priscilla Presley : 1980
Priscilla Presley on 'First Person' : 1991 (09:25)
Priscilla Presley talks to Larry King on CNN : Priscilla looks back : August 16, 2007 (10:25)
Priscilla Presley gives Larry King a tour of Graceland : August 16, 200 (04:32)
Interview with Priscilla Presley : December 15, 2009 (04:31)

Elvis and Priscilla Beaulieu Getting Married : 1967 (01:09)
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Photos : Elvis Presley, Priscilla Beaulieu Presley & Lisa Marie Presley

Vernon & Gladys Presley

Vernon and Gladys Presley : Elvis Presley's Mother and Father

Interview with Vernon Presley : 1978
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Photos of Vernon and Gladys Presley

Presley Family History

Elvis Presley Family History : 1669-1935

Elvis Presleys Grandfather

Jessie D. McDowell (J.D.) Presley : Elvis Presleys Grandfather

Elvis Presley : Interviews and Press Conferences with Elvis Presley

Interviews with and or about Elvis Presley

Interview With Elvis Presley : August 28, 1956
Interview with Elvis Presley : October 28, 1957, Los Angeles
Interview with Elvis Presley : Press Conference Canada 1957
Interview with Elvis Presley : July 31, 1969 By Ray Connelly
Interview with Elvis Presley : The 1969 Press Conference : August 1, 1969
Interview with Elvis Presley : The February 1970 Houston Astrodome Press Conference
Interview with Elvis Presley : The 1972 Madison Square Press Conference : June 9, 1972
Rare Elvis Presley : 1973 Aloha Interview

Elvis Presley Biography
Elvis Presley's Graceland : 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard

Elvis Presley & Captain Marvel Jr
Elvis Presley's Cars
Elvis Presleys Lisa Marie Jetplane

Photos of Elvis Presley

The Memphis Mafia

Elvis Presleys Friends : The Memphis Mafia

Colonel Tom Parker

Elvis Presley's Manager : Colonel Tom Parker
Interview with Colonel Tom Parker : Elvis Presley's Manager : 1987
Interview with Colonel Tom Parker : Elvis Presley's Manager

Elvis By The Presleys DVD

For more information on Elvis and Priscilla buy the Elvis By The Presleys DVD -- at over 4 hours this double DVD set will tell you everything you want to know and more plus includes lots of home movies of Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie. A must for every fan! -- Also there is Priscilla's book -- Elvis & Me.